IndyCar rookies impressive in St. Pete

There are two ways to look at the three rookies in the Firestone Fast Six for Sunday’s Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Verizon IndyCar Series season opener:

1 – The 2018 driver lineup is loaded with tremendous young talent that are ready to prove why they are competing in the highly-competitive open-wheel series.

Or:

2 – Many of the racing fans in the United States that are looking at the top three rows for Sunday’s race asking, “Who are these guys?”

Robert Wickens, a 28-year-old rookie driver from Guelph, Ontario won the pole in his first-ever IndyCar race with a fast lap at 105.085 miles per hour in a Honda. Matheus Leist, a 19-year-old driver from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil who drives for American racing legend AJ Foyt, qualified third in a Chevrolet at 104.917 mph.

Leist and King tied in miles per hour but Leist’s lap time was 1:01.7631 and King’s was 1:01.7633.

These were the star newcomers in the first day of competition in 2018. The other four rookies qualified more like one would expect.

Zach Veach of the United States was 15th, Jack Harvey of England, 19th, Zachary Claman De Melo 19th and Rene Binder 23rd.

Of course, this was only qualifications. And, it was the first time the 24 drivers have entered a race weekend with the new Dallara aero kit that has changed the dynamic of the racing this season.

But on a day when drivers named Will Power, Takuma Sato, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Scott Dixon and Josef Newgarden were supposed to shine, they were stunned by the glare coming off rookies Wickens, Leist and King.

“It just shows kind of the parity within the series, now that everyone has got the same body kit,” Power said. “You don't really see anyone struggling. They're all good guys. They're all guys capable of winning races. Yeah, pretty impressive, though, all those guys up in front there, first time out. I think there's three, right?

“Three of them in the Fast Six is very impressive.”

Hunter-Reay is a 2012 IndyCar Series champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner and one of the big names in the series.

“These guys have been quick in testing, though, so it's not totally shocking they did a good job overall,” Hunter-Reay said of the rookies. “It's funny because there's so much talent in the series, you just miss -- you have a slight misstep, and everybody is there to pick up on it. But good job for those guys for sure, trying conditions and a new car on the track, it's impressive.”

According to Power, these rookie drivers picked the best year to join the series because every driver is in a different car than last year. The setup sheets that Team Penske and Chip Ganassi Racing and the other big-time teams used are no longer relevant.

Everyone is starting fresh.

“I think it's easier to get in the window with this car, to be honest,” Hunter-Reay said. “None of the setups really cross over. Maybe a little bit. Yeah, it just seems easier -- it's harder to drive, but it's easier to drive it because you're a little bit more nimble and you can get away with a slide without losing a bunch of time. Yeah, it's just the fact that everyone has got the same stuff makes it very competitive.

“In this field I wouldn't be surprised if anyone runs up front really. That's the beautiful thing about the Verizon IndyCar Series. Actually, anyone can win the race, and I have no expectations on that side of it. I don't expect to go to the front because I'm a veteran. It's going to be a very difficult race. It's going to be a very different race than what we're used to. I think we're going to be slipping and sliding around, constantly changing circumstances, and traffic is going to be very difficult. You know, even out-braking a guy is going to be a lot different than in years past. It's going to be a different type of race.”

By setting a track record in his first ever Verizon IndyCar Series race, King can celebrate that accomplishment although it was Wickens that won the pole.

He can also take satisfaction in adjusting to a car so quickly in a new series.

“Two months ago, I had no expectations, but then slowly after driving the car, I started to realize that actually it's not too dissimilar to what I've driven before, and I feel comfortable in the car,” King said. “It's not like it's something where I need to learn everything again.

“Yes, there's a few driving techniques that are different, but we've got a driver coach that's helped with that, and the engineers have really helped with some more details of learning. But also, the other thing that's helped is they've trusted me, as well. They've let me kind of be myself and go forward with it.

“I'm trying not to have any expectations, and so far, that has worked. Then again, I'm sitting here. But it's more that I've trusted my ability, so in my view, if I continue just to do that and actually trust what I've been told, trust what I can do, the rest of it will take care of itself.”

Leist’s third-place start in the No. 4 ABC Supply Chevrolet owned by AJ Foyt was a “dream come true” according to the driver who is still a teenager.

“I was racing in England two years ago and then last year came to race in Indy Lights and had quite a great season,” Leist said. “The cars are completely different than anything that I had driven before, and then this year I made the step to the IndyCars.

“I think I was expecting to be like top 10 but definitely not top five, top six and the team just did an amazing job, and very happy for the performance throughout the whole weekend already and looking forward to the race. It's going to be my first race in IndyCar, first time doing pit stops, first time saving fuel and all this stuff, so a lot of things to learn yet, but hopefully we're going to have a great time tomorrow.”

King has been racing for 12 years. Leist for 11. And the 28-year-old Wickens competed in one of the world’s most demanding sports car series.

So, the term “rookie” is a bit of a misnomer considering their skill level. They are new to IndyCar but highly-trained in racing.

“We have got a lot of experience in driving cars, new tires, changing conditions and that sort of thing,” King said. “So, we still have to learn the new car, but there's still a lot of experience in the past. So, I think that also negates some of the factors that -- you look at a lot of the young drivers coming through, they are actually very experienced and well-rounded, and I know Matheus won the British F3 championship and so did I.

“We've all been racing a long time, and I think Robert has achieved a lot more than your average person in motorsport, and he's a very talented driver, so there's no coincidence that he's come in and done a good job. Maybe his previous experiences in other cars helped him in the trickier conditions, so yeah, he has done a very good job. That said, all the big names, as well, they have done good jobs. Obviously, it's 50/50 up here today, but they've all -- they'll all be good throughout the season, and it won't be a case that they will be caught asleep.”

Wickens will try to get a good night’s sleep and doesn’t plan much of a celebration after winning the Verizon P1 Award in his very first attempt. He didn’t realize that he has to turn his clock one hour forward before going to bed Saturday night because of the change to Daylight Saving Time.

By joining IndyCar when he did, he sees the 2018 car as one less disadvantage for a rookie driver.

As far as winning the pole, he believes he earned it.

“But I don't think in any way does rookies performing discredit the level of IndyCar,” Wickens said. “I think there's a good crop of rookie drivers here. By no means do I feel like rookies succeeding right now in St. Pete does anything to discredit the level of the series. I think the fact that there are so many rookies, if anything, should promote the series and the fact that it's drawing interest.

“Fernando Alonso loved it. I'm here because I love IndyCar, and I'm sure the two people that were beside me will say the same thing. The series is on the rise, and anyone who tries it put it down, it's because they're probably worried about us succeeding more than them.”

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